Chapter 1
It's the fall of 1998, and the gates of Hogwart’s are opened again. Carriages pulled by threrestrals passed the battle scarred gates. Across the lake, spots of lights shone on the boats that the first years would be boarding to enter Hogwarts for the first time.
I watched the carriages in front of me stop at the entrance doors. Light flowed out of the school as the doors opened to admit the students in their black robes. When our carriage stopped, Ginny and I climbed down. I stopped and fed our Threstral a piece of jerky on our way by. Ginny gave me a strange look, but I ignored her as I felt it's snake-like tongue flick out onto my palm to see what I was offering. It then lipped it up like a normal horse would a carrot. It's sharp teeth slightly grazed my palm as it took the dried sliver of meat.
Once the meat was gone, I wiped my hand on my robe and followed the impatient Ginger next to me into our beloved school. Walking in, I quickly noticed the changes. The walls had large blank spaces where paintings used to hang. The doors to the great hall were completely missing, and you could see new house tables set up inside. Following Ginny, I noticed a new shining addition in the front of the hall beside the house hourglasses. I could see engravings on the sheet of bronze, but I could not see the words. I wanted to inspect it but my curiosity would have to wait. Ginny found our friends and was heading towards them at the Gryffindor table.
I sat down beside her and distractedly mumbled my greetings to Neville, Parvati, and Seamus. Cormac was sitting further down the table and I caught him staring at me. My nose crinkled in disgust. All along the table were other students returning to finish their seventh year.
A loud commotion came from the entrance, and everyone turned to see Madame Maxime. I was surprised to see the large woman, but I couldn't help but chuckle at how small the first years she was leading looked next to her. They filed in single file and stood at the front of the hall. Hagrid came in after them and stood next to Madame Maxime, smiling happily. I smiled at his joy. After their adventures to the giant the two had grown closer. Madame Maxime must have moved to Hogwarts to be with him.
Professor Mcgonagall stood up from the chair that I was so accustomed to seeing Dumbledore in and stepped forward to address the first years.
“Good evening, young minds,” she started. “Welcome to Hogwarts. I'm sure Maxime has explained to you all how sorting works. We will now begin”
She waved her wand and the hat appeared on the stool in front of her. Madame Maxime pulled out the parchment of names and proceeded to call them out. The students would step forward, have the Hat place on their head, then proceed to the table that cheered for them. I tuned the sorting after about the tenth kid. Reaching into my robe I pulled out the letter I had received approximately a week ago.
To Miss Hermione Jean Granger,
You are hereby formally accepted back to Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry to complete your seventh year of schooling. Enclosed along with this letter is your supply list. Also is your badge for Head Girl. I would like to congratulate you on this achievement.
Fond regards,
Headmistress Minerva Mcgonagall
I fold the letter up and return it to my pocket. Pulling out the bright gold pin that marks me as Head Girl, I pinned it onto the lapel of my robe. Neville looked up at my movement and gave me a smile and a thumbs up in congratulations when he saw the pin. I smiled back and then heard the last child being sorted. After the hound blonde girl sat down, Professor Mcgonagall waved her wand and dismissed the sorting hat. With another wave platters of food appeared before us on the tables. I heard the gasps of the first years when the delicacies shimmered into existence.
“Let the sorting feast begin,” Mcgonagall announced, then turned with the swish of her robe and sat back down into her elaborate chair.